I just received my hardback copy this morning. It's an impressively beautiful - and heavy! - book.
Note: While I've just now received the book, I have already been reading the translation online.
I think the physical book itself speaks to the immensity of the message of the Qur'an for the prospective reader's life. As a non-Muslim who is sincerely learning about Islam, Muhammad Asad's translation and explanation of the Noble Qur'an is unique in its attempt to address those who are thinkers, intellectuals or rationalists of some sort. Yet, in doing so, Asad eliminates nothing of the Qur'an's expressed divinity and majesty. This alone is an awesome task that Asad executes with extreme care and intellectual brilliance.
So, if you are concerned that Asad's translation is "too logical", be not afraid!
Asad presents abundant justifications for his translative and interpretive decisions. He is refreshingly honest and transparent. In fact, even when Asad clearly prefers a particular meaning of an ayah (or verse), he will frequently cite other tasirs (or interpretations) in order to show the reader the multitude of meanings regarded as valid by Islamic scholars. That includes tafsirs that Asad himself doesn't agree with. This, to me, is a true testament to Asad's authenticity as a scholar as well as his truthfulness as a Muslim.
Thoughout the book, there is beautiful arabic calligraphy honoring a particular ayah from the Qur'an. I couldn't help but touch each page with a profound sense of awe. As I said before, the physical book gives a real, tangible sense of the Noble Qur'an's immensity.
I highly recommend this translation... if you have the money. This was the only translation that had overwhelming praise in all the right ways.
But, as far as more affordable alternatives are concerned, one might consider either the Sahih (a.k.a. Saheeh) International translation for its simple readability or "The Koran Interpreted" translation by A.J. Arberry for its poetic style.
As a general rule, however, I would recommend reading as many translations as you can online to not only get a sense of how each translation differs but also whether they stylistically express an appropriate tone within the text itself. A proper translation is certainly important, but it's absolutely vital that you, the reader, get the sense that these are the words of God, not the translator. Otherwise, the translator has truly failed, I believe.
That is why, in my view,
The Message of The Qur'an by Asad, Muhammad (2003) Hardcover
is a truly exceptional work.
And that's my two cents. :) Thanks for reading.
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